Ever-changing UMass to play Richmond in first Atlantic 10 basketball road test

The Republican photo by DAVE ROBACKFreddie Riley shows his form as a Minuteman freshman this season.The Republican file photoFreddie Riley shoots over Champlain St.- Lambert's #4 Niko Cochran in the Spalding Hoophall Classic at Springfield College last January.
If Sunday’s game in Springfield was any indication, the University of Massachusetts men’s basketball team is bringing an evolving lineup to Richmond Wednesday night.
It will be the first Atlantic 10 Conference road game for UMass (7-8, 1-1), which faces Richmond’s most highly regarded team in years.
The Spiders are 12-5, and 1-1 in the A-10. They have beaten Florida and lost to Wake Forest in overtime.
Two months into the season, the UMass rotation is still being tweaked and adjusted.
Most apparent Sunday was the expanded role of freshman guard Freddie Riley, who had 22 points in the 80-74 loss to La Salle.
UMass coach Derek Kellogg pledged to find significant playing time for Riley, who played 26 minutes, his high to date.
He returned last week after missing four games following minor knee surgery in December.
Riley is averaging 17 minutes per game. He is scoring 10.4 points, third on the team, and is shooting 36 percent from both 3-point range and overall.
Of his 104 attempts, 82 have come from 3-point range, but the 6-foot-5 Riley has also shown some skill at creating shots for himself in the lane.
Other recent changes have been more subtle, but still significant.
Center Hashim “Big City” Bailey fouled out against La Salle, but his overall role has been more prominent than initially expected.
Bailey saw hardly any playing time in two years at Memphis. He sat out last year as a transfer to UMass.
“He has basically played very little in the last three years. I’m really happy for him,” Kellogg said.
David Gibbs began the season at point guard. He was used primarily for defensive purposes Sunday, taking one shot in 17 minutes.
Depending on game situations, that could make Gibbs a useful alternative to Riley, a scoring threat who is still on the raw side defensively,
Gary Correia started his third straight game. The junior guard’s minutes were down a bit from previous games, but he still played 19.
A Ricky Harris-Correia backcourt puts the team’s two point guards on the floor at the same time.
Harris’ role is being tweaked, too. Bothered by an ankle problem this season, he remains a go-to player, but is not being asked to shoulder disproportionate scoring, playmaking or defensive duties.
In freshmen Riley, Terrell Vinson and Sampson Carter, Kellogg sees cornerstones for the future.
He’s satisfied with Riley and Vinson, and says he’ll work to get Carter going as well.
Carter is averaging 16 minutes a game. Vinson is playing 24 minutes a game as a starting forward.
A fourth freshman, Javorn Farrell, has missed the last two games with a groin problem, but is expected to play Wednesday.
Farrell can play guard or small forward.
UMass will have its hands full with Richmond guards Kevin Anderson and David Gonzalves, who have combined to average 71 minutes and 31.4 points per game.
They account for nearly half of the scoring by the Spiders, who are producing 68 points per game and allowing only 61.
Richmond lost 63-58 at Saint Louis Saturday.
Picked to finish third in the Atlantic 10 this season, the Spiders have been listed as an NCAA tournament candidate in several publications.
They lost only one starter from last year’s 20-16 team, and regained center Dan Geriot, who led Richmond in scoring for two seasons, but missed last year due to knee problems.